Concrete tile forming machine



July 6, 1954 N. E. RAMsEY CONCRETE TILE EORMINC MACHINE Filed Nov. 16.1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l A N w, E; M

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CONCRETE TILE FORMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1950A IN VEN TOR. ,4

July 6, 1954 N E RAMSEY 2,682,695

CONCRETE TILE FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CONCRETE TILE FORMINGMACHINE Neuman E. Ramsey, Kansas City, Mo.

Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 196,000

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic machines for producing tubularmembers from cementitious materials and has to do more specifically withconcrete forming apparatus capable of intermittently feeding thematerial into tubular molds therefor as the latter are continually andsuccessively moved into and out of a feeding position.

Machines of the kind forming the subject matter of this invention haveheretofore been developed and placed in use but for the most part, thesame are not entirely automatic and therefore, require a number ofworkmen, together with constant attention in order to form concretetiles with any degree of speed. Oftentimes such machines also require anadditional workman for feeding the material into the molds, togetherwith another worker for intermittently shifting the molds into a feedingposition as still another workman removes the molds from the machine andreplaces the same after the tile has been removed therefrom.

It is the most important object of this invention therefore, to providea concrete tile forming machine that includes a turntable operablyconnected with other parts of the machine for supporting a plurality offorms and shifting an empty form into a feeding position during eachcycle of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide va tile forming machinethat includes a recpro- Ycable forming and packing plunger, theaforesaid turntable being operated by the same mechanism that isprovided to cause reciprocation of the plunger.

Another equally important object of the invention is to provide means ina tile forming machine to automatically hold the aforesaid plungeragainst movement at one end of its path of travel momentarily while thesame is in the mold so that sufficient time is allowed to directcementitious material thereinto and thereby present a fully formed andadequately packed tile throughout the length thereof and particularly atits lowermost end.

Other objects of this invention include the wat7 in which the feedingdevice is rendered operable only when the forming and packing plunger iswithin the tubular mold; the way in which the speed of operation of. theentire assembly may be easily and quickly adjusted without the necessityof resynchronization; the manner of locking the mold being filled inposition on the turntable each .time the same moves to a feedingposition; the way in which the turntable is stepped 90 during Aeachcycle of operation and locked against movement while the tile is beingformed; and the manner of preventing reciprocable movement of the tilelocking means while the same is in a position holding the tile in placeon the turntable.

Many more minor objects including details of construction and novelarrangement of parts will be made clear or become apparent as thefollowing specification progresses, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a concrete tile forming machinemade pursuant to my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view, parts being broken awayto reveal details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional View taken on irregular lineIV--IV of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a transverse, cross-sectional View taken on line V--V of Fig.3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig.3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing a portion of one side ofthe machine opposite to that illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings andvtaken on line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on lineVIII-VIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, detailed sectional view taken on line IX-IX ofFig. 2; and

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary, elevational View opposite to that illustratedin Fig. 2 and showing a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7.

The entire machine forming the subject matter hereof and illustrated inthe drawings may be suitably supported in any desired manner on a basenot shown, upon which base is mounted an elongated, vertical primaryframe member l0 that is H-shaped in cross-section as illustrated inFigs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

A horizontal spider-like turntable I2, provided with a central opening(not shown) circumscribes the upright frame member l0 intermediate theends of the latter and is supported for rotation about the vertical axisof frame member I0 by a plurality of rollers Ml` carried by standard I0on the outer faces thereof. The turntable l2 as illustrated, includesfour ngers, each adapted to receive and support a tubular mold I6 ofconventional character in that the same is split longitudinally andprovided with a lock not shown for releasably holding the same in atubular condition until such time as the tile formed therein is to bereleased.

Both ends of the form I6 are open and when the same is supported in anupright condition by the turntable I 2, the lowermost end thereof fitswithin a circular opening I8 formed within each linger respectively ofthe turntable I2. The lower end of the form I6 rests upon an annulus 20underlying the turntable I2 and aixed thereto in concentric relationshipto the corresponding opening I 8.

A pair of opposed, L-shaped lugs 22 (Fig. l), adjacent each opening I8respectively, receive opposed pins 24 on the forms I6 near the lowermostend of the latter to hold the same in place. The pins 24 are moved intoand out of a position locked with the lugs 22 by merely rotating theform It on its longitudinal vertical axis. The turntable i2 is rotatedin the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 intermittently 90 instepby-step fashion through mechanism hereinafter to be describedsuccessively bringing the molds I into a feeding position underlying acup-shaped, horizontal feed table 2S.

Table 26 is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 of the drawings at thelowermost end of its reciprocable path of travel as is a forming andpacking plunger 28 as the same would appear if a form I6 were inposition interposed between table 2S and the turntable I2. For clearnesshowever, such form It to be fed with cementitious material is not shownin the feeding position in Figs. 1 and 2.

The feed table 26 is connected rigidly to a pair of opposed verticallyreciprocable rods 3i) and 32 through the medium of a pair of laterallyextending arms 31% and 36 respectively. The vertically reciprocable,elongated rods 32 are carried by the upright It on opposite facesthereof by spaced bearings 38, the lowermost bearings 38 serving asstops for limiting the extent of downward movement of the rods and 32and the feed table 26 with its arms 3Q and 36.

The plunger 28 is mounted on the lowermost end of an elongated stem 4I]that is both rotatable and reeiprocable on its longitudinal verticalaxis. The stem ISG extends upwardly through a central opening :l2 formedin the bottom of feed table 2c and having a diameter suiiciently largeto receive and clear the plunger 28. Rotation of the stem lil and of theplunger 28 thereon is effected through the medium of an electric motoror other prime mover @il suitably carried by the standard I near theuppermost end of the latter, having connection with a pulley ll throughendless belts or the like 138. The pulley 48 is mounted upon the stemtid through the medium of a plurality of vertical grooves 5e formed inthe stem 4G, there being lugs in the pulley 46 slidable within thegrooves 5t as the stem 40 is caused to reciprocate vertically. In otherwords, the connection between pulley it and the stem l0 is ofconventional character permitting pulley It to rotate the stem :i9 andat the same time permitting the stern 4d to reciprocate upon itslongitudinal axis within the pulley 5 as continuous rotation takesplace.

The standard IS has a pair of opposed tracks 52 carried on oppositefaces thereof and to one side of the rods 3Q and 32 respectively forguiding a pair of opposed vertically reciprocable identical plates 54.The plates 54 extend outwardly from the tracks 52 beyond the standard Itand converge as the outermost ends thereof are approached.

The plates 54 are joined by a bottom wall Sii that extends outwardlybeyond plates 54 and rotatably receive the stem 4e together with a block58 on wall 56. While the stem 40 is rotatable within wall 56 and block58, it cannot reciprocate relative thereto. A plurality of opposedrollers Se for each of the tracks 52 respectively, guide the plates 5eand structure carried thereby including stem i5 as the same reciprocatevertically along tracks 52.

The plates 513 are also joined by a cross-bar 62 that is in turnconnected with a stem 5ft forming a part of an hydraulic system throughthe medium of a bracket 66. Stem 64 joins at that end thereof oppositeto bracket 5S with a piston G8 mounted within a vertically disposedcylinder 'III carried within a portion of the standard I. It is seentherefore, that as hydraulic pressure is directed to the cylinder III oneither side of the piston 68, the stem 64 will be reciprocated to impartthe same motion to plates 54 and the stem IG of plunger 28.

The reciprocable rods 3K) and 32 are each normally locked against upwardmovement whereby to hold the feed table 2S in the position illustratedin Figs. l and 2 through the medium of toggle mechanism including a linkl2 pivotally interconnecting standard Iii at the uppermost end thereofand a cam member that is pivotally secured to the uppermost end of thecorresponding rod 32. The two locks are broken by upward movement of theplates E4 through the medium of a small roller i8 on each plate 54respectively that contacts the cam member '14. As the rollers 'I6continue to move upwardly under the influence of the piston stem 54, andafter the cam member 'I have been swung on their pivot points, therollers 'I6 move into a cam-like notch 'It formed in the cam member 'Itcarrying therewith the rods 35 and 32 and causing the same to move fromthe position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to an elevated position notshown. Obviously, as rods 32 rise in this fashion, the feeding table 25will be carried therewith and move upwardly away from the turntable I 2.

The feed table 25 is formed similarly to the turntable I2 in that theopening I2 thereof has an annulus 89 for receiving the uppermost end ofthe form i5 and holding the same on the turntable I2 when the feed table26 is in the position illustrated in Fig. l. Accordingly, as the table26 moves upwardly, the forms I6 are free to rotate under influence ofthe turntable I2 and as the table 2% returns to its lowermost position,an empty form I6 is engaged thereby and held locked on the turntable I2.

It is further understood that when the stem 64 moves downwardly to causedescent of roller 16, the latter will actuate cam member 'IG to againlock the rods and 32 and the feed table 26 against upward movement.

The means for imparting rotation to the turntable I2 all through primemover lill, is illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 and includes aspringloaded swingable dog 82 on the turntable I2 for each fingerthereof respectively that is engaged by a latch member BLI swingablysecured to the standard I 9. 1Swinging movement is imparted to the latchmember S each time the piston stem Sli rises, by means of a cross-bar 86that joins the rods 39 and 32 adjacent the arms 35 of table 2S.

An extensible bar 88 pivotally connected with the cross-bar 36intermediate the ends thereof has pivotal connection at its lowermostend with a link 9G swingably secured to the standard I 0. A bell crank92 pivoted on a horizontal axis 94 has one of its arms pivotallyconnected with the link 90 by a short link 96, and its other armpivotally joined with a reciprocable bar 98 by means of a short link|00. Swinging movement is imparted to the latch member 84 therefore,upon reciprocation of bar 98 through the medium of a link |02 thatpivotally interconnects bar 08 and the latch member 84.

The hydraulic system above mentioned and forming a part of the machinehereof is for the most part quite conventional and has therefore, notbeen detailed. However, for reasons hereinafter to be made clear, it isadvantageous to drive the hydraulic pump |04 thereof directly from thecontinuously rotating stem 40 through the medium of an endless belt |05.The system including pump |04 couples directly with a two-way valve |06mounted on a plate |08 carried by upright l0 by means of line ||0. Valve|06 is provided with two outlet pipes ||2 and ||4 joined with theuppermost and lowermost ends respectively of cylinder 10 and arelatively small receptacle H6 joins with the pipe ||4 by conduit H8.

cementitious material to be fed into a form I6 within a feeding positionbelow table 26 is stored within a hopper-like bin provided with anoutlet opening at its lowermost end not shown, directly overlying aninclined chute |22. There is provided within the bin |20 an auger, notshown, for feeding the material into the trough or chute |22 that isdriven by a prime mover |24 connected directly with the auger throughsuitable gear reduction by means of an endless belt or the like |26.

The shaft |28 for the aforesaid auger has a link |80 clamped theretothat is in turn pivotally connected with an elongated arm |32. Arm |32swings a link |34 to which it is pivotally connected that is joined withagitating means in hopper |20 capable of scraping certain of the wallsof the hopper |20 and causing the cementitious material to flowdownwardly to the trough |22.

Trough |22 is swingably joined with a frame |36 that supports hopper |20by means of a pin |38 extending through a loop |40 depending from andrigid to the trough |22. The lowermost end of trough |22 is carried bythe feed table 26 through the medium of a pin |42 carried by the latterand a short shaft |44 underlying the trough 22 and pivoted to theuppermost end of pin |42.

The conventional two-way valve |06 is operated through reciprocation ofrod in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7. A pair of oscillatory triggers|46 and |43 are carried by the plate |08, trigger |48 being connecteddirectly to the valve |06 and being actuated by the swingable trigger 46through the medium of a pair of spaced stops |50. An arm |52 swingableon the plate |08 is provided with a roller |54 intermediate the endsthereof, yieldably held biased against the trigger |46 by a spring |56.Connecting member |58 on the trigger |46 is slidable on an elongatedvertical rod |60 between a pair of stops |62 on rod |60. Rod |60 iscarried for vertical reciprocation by a pair of bearings |64 on standardI0. The lowermost end of the rod |60 is in direct alignment withcrossbar 86 and a lateral projection |66 aligns with a bracket |68 onone of the plates 54 supporting its roller 16.

The plunger 28 is Vformed as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 8 to operateboth as a forming means and as a packer and includes a cylindrical,preferably solid, lowermost portion |10 and an upper portion thatcomprises a pair of opposed segments |12 presenting a pair of opposedspaces therebetween and above the solid portion |10.

Laterally projecting notched plates |14 are mounted at the outermost endof each nger respectively of the turntable |2 for receiving a lockingbar |16 depending from the feed table 26 whereby to hold the turntable|2 against rotation when the feed table 26 is at the lowermost end ofits path of travel as shown in Figs. l and 2.

During operation, prime mover 44 is energized continuously to rotate thestem 40, the plunger 28 carried thereby and to actuate the pump |04 ofthe hydraulic system. Hydraulic fluid will immediately be directedtoward the lowermost end of cylinder 10, but the least resistance tosuch iiow of fluid is into the receptacle ||6 by way of conduit H8.Consequently, for a moment, the piston 68 will not be driven upwardlywithin the cylinder 10 and accordingly, the plunger 28 will not risefrom the position illustrated in Figs. l and 2 until such time as thereceptacle ||6 becomes lled with iiuid. It is assumed of course, thatall four fingers of the turntable |2 support a form |6 and that prior todownward'movement of the plunger 28, one of such forms |6 is in aposition directly underlying the table l26 and aligned with the opening42 thereof. When all of the parts are in the condition illustrated inFigs. l and 2, one of the rollers 16 bears against an arm |18 of anelectric switch for energizing the prime mover |24 and thereby feedcementitious material from hopper |20 to the chute or trough |22. Suchmaterial flows upon the feed table 26 and thence through opening 42 andinto the form I8 around the combination packer and forming plunger 28.As soon as piston E8 rises, plunger -28 moves Vupwardly within the moldI6 to form the tubular tile member and pack the cementitious materialtightly against the inner walls of the mold |6. Such movement of plunger28 is effected by virtue of the connection 66 of stem 64 and the plates54 which are in turn joined with the rotating stem 40 of plunger 28.

As soon as one roller 16 that engages arm |18, moves to a positionopening the switch for motor |24, the material ceases to flow from thehopper 20. After the rollers 16 move to a position engaging the cammembers 14, the rods 30 and 32 are unlocked and caused to move upwardlywith and by the rollers 16. This action raises the table 26 away fromits contacting relationship with the form I6 and simultaneously movesthe bar |16 out of engagement with the proximal plate |14, therebyreleasing the turntable |2 for rotational movement. The two-way valve|06 remains in a position permitting flow of hydraulic fluid to thelowermost end of the cylinder 10 until such time as the table 26 and thecross-bar 86 commence to rise and until such time as the cross-bar 86comes into contact with the lowermost end of rod |60. As rod |60 rises,the lowermost stop |62 comes into contact with connector |58 to swingthe trigger |46 against the action of spring |56 to a point below roller|54. As soon as the lowermost stop |50 of trigger |46 contacts thetrigger |48, the latter will be swung and the valve |06 actuated.

The now of hydraulic fluid immediately changes to drive the piston 68downwardly and to permit return ow of fluid therebelow to the pump |04.Valve |06 is again actuated on downward movement of the plates 54 byvirtue of bracket |68 contacting extension |66. Here again, delayedaction takes places since the trigger |46 is not actuated until theupper stop |62 contacts the connector |58 and the trigger |48 is notactuated until the uppermost stop |50 of trigger |48 comes into contactwith trigger |48.

Simultaneously, with the aforesaid upward movements of stem 48 and feedtable 26, crossbar 8S operates to step the turntable |2-90" for moving amold I6 having a formed tile therein from beneath table 2S and forpositioning an empty mold I6 in a feeding position. Upward movement ofcross-bar 36 imparts like movement to connector 88 swinging link 9B andcausing bell crank 92 to rotate on its pivot 94 by means of link 96.When bell crank 92 swings, it reciprocates the bar 9S to cause swingingmovement in latch 84 through link |02. The latch 84 engages the proximaldog 82 which shifts the table I2 as aforesaid. On downward movement ofthe crossbar 88, the action just described is reversed, the latch 8:1returning to a position for receiving the spring-loaded dog 82.

It is seen therefore, from the foregoing that the machine is entirelyautomatic and that the only workman that is necessary is one to removethe tubular form i6 from the turntable I2 after a tile has been formedtherein and to replace the same with an empty form I6. It will berecalled that the forms I6 are of a split nature and provided with alock which is released after the tile is formed for removing the latterand conditioning the form l5 for further use. The diameter of theplunger 28 is of course, less than the inside diameter of forms I6 andaccordingly, the tile formed thereby will have an inside diameter equalto that of the plunger 28.

The importance of the delayed action of plunger 28 at the lowermost endof its path of travel, is worthy of repetition since in the absence ofsuch construction, tiles formed through use of a machine of thischaracter will not be adequately filled and packed at one end thereof.By permitting plunger 28 to rotate without reciprocation within the form|6, a suficient amount of cernentitious material will be directed intothe form and packed against the inner walls thereof to present acompletely filled and relatively strong tile structure throughout thelength thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredt0 be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tile making machine, a hydraulic cylinder having a verticallyreciprocable piston provided with a stem extending upwardly from the .1

cylinder; an elongated, upright rod in spaced parallelism to said stem;structure connecting the stem with. the rod forl reciprccationtherewith, said rod being rotatable on its longitudinal, vertical axis;a prime mover operably coupled with the rod for rotating the latter asthe same reciprocates; a forming and packing plunger on the rod at thelowermost end thereof; guide means spaced from the rod and the stem;means mounting the guide means for vertical reciprocation; a feed tablesurrounding the rod above the plunger; means for supporting a tile formbelow the table in alignment with the plunger, said table being securedto the guide means for reciprocation therewith to and from a positionresting on said tile forni; a lock for holding the guide means at thelowcrmost end of its path of travel, said lock having a cam memberswingabe on the guide means to and from a position releasing the latterfor upward movement; and an extension on said structure engageable withsaid cam member as the stem moves toward the uppermost end of its pathof travel, said cam member having a notch for receiving the extensionafter release of the cam member and upon continued upward movement ofthe stem whereby the guide means is raised and the table is lifted asthe stem moves to said uppermost end of its path of travel.

2. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidextension is spaced below the cam member when the table is on the tileand the rod is at the lowermost end of its path of travel whereby todelay raising of the table until the plunger has risen a predetermineddistance above the lowerinost end of its path of travel.

3. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tileform supporting means is rotatable about said vertical aXis of thepiston, and wherein is provided stepping mechanism operably coupled withsaid supporting means for rotating the latter, and means interconnectingthe stepping mechanism and the guide means for ,.ctuating the mechanismupon recprocation of the guide means.

4. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is providedmeans for pumping hydraulic fluid, a movable valve for directing saidiuid to the cylinder below the piston when the valve is in one positionand to the cylinder above the piston when the valve is in a secondposition, means on said structure for moving the valve to said oneposition as the stem descends, and means on said table for moving thevalve to second position as the stem rises.

5. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim l, wherein is providedmeans for pumping hydraulic fluid, a movable valve for directing saidfluid to the cylinder below the piston when the i valve is in oneposition and to the cylinder above the valve, means on said structurefor lowering said element as the stem descends, means on said table forraising said element as the stem rises, a stop on the element engageablewith the connector to move the valve to said one position as the elementis lowered, and a stop on the element engageable with the connector tomove the valve to said second position as the element is raised.

6. In a tile making machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said stopsare spaced on the element with the connector disposed therebetweenwhereby to delay movement of the valve alternately to said positionsthereof as the stem reciprocates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 588,652 Pelton Aug. 24, 1397 593,871 Bain Nov. 16, 1897795,024 Case July 18, 1905 932,023 Jelries Aug. 24, 1909 951,740McCracken Mar. 8, 1910 1,200,633 McCracken Oct. 10, 1916 1,314,153Schneider Aug. 213, 1919 2,193,286 La Due Mar. 12, 1940 2,525,275Schmidt Oct. 10, 1950 2,530,687 Dixon Nov, 2l, 1950

